Chapter 17
CANCER

In 1993, more than five million Americans were diagnosed as having some type of cancer. Currently, one out of every five Americans is likely to develop cancer during his or her lifetime, and one person in five who develop cancer is likely to die from it. Approximately one third of all cancers result from cigarette smoking and other forms of tobacco use. It is estimated that 80% of all cancers could be prevented if people ate nutritious low-fat foods, did not smoke, and limited other unhealthy behaviors.

This chapter describes the causes and major types of cancer and outlines the holistic approach to preventing and treating them. This holistic approach is summarized best by Dr. Bernie Siegel in his book Love , Medicine & Miracles , who states: “A vigorous immune system can overcome cancer if it is not interfered with, and emotional growth toward greater self-acceptance and fulfillment helps keep the immune system strong.”

Cancer is not one disease, but a group of diseases, all of which occur when healthy cells stop functioning and maturing properly. Normal, healthy cells grow, divide, and replace themselves in an orderly way. Sometimes, however, for reasons still not fully understood, cells lose their ability to control their growth–and begin to multiply abnormally. During this process, they can develop their own network of blood vessels which siphon nourishment away from the body's blood supply.

Every cell in the body has the ability to turn cancerous, and many do so on a daily basis. Normally, the immune system is able to either destroy these cells or reprogram them back to normal functioning. However, if the immune system is weakened (suppressed) severely, it cannot destroy or reprogram the cells, which subsequently form tumors, or masses of abnormal cells (usually more than a billion before they become detectable). If the cancer cells do not spread beyond the tissue or organ where they originated, the cancer is considered to be localized or benign. Benign tumors (such as warts and cysts) usually remain localized, can be removed by surgery, and are not life-threatening.

Malignant tumors, which can develop in any organ or tissue in the body, are composed of cells that multiply much faster than normal cells and usually have one or more abnormal chromosomes. The cells of malignant tumors do not remain localized; instead, they enter the bloodstream and migrate to vital body organs where they can form new tumors. By diverting essential nutrients from normal cells and releasing toxins into the blood and organ systems, malignant tumors interfere with the functioning of those organs so that serious illness and death ensue. If left untreated, cancer is almost always fatal.

Different types of cancers are defined according to the organ or kind of tissue in which the tumor is located. Although there are more than 100 different varieties of cancer, the five basic categories include carcinomas, sarcomas, myelomas, lymphomas, and leukemias. Carcinomas are tumors that form in tissues covering or lining internal organs. They are the most common type of cancer, accounting for 80–90% of all cancers, and typically found in the intestines, lung, breast, prostate, and skin.

Sarcomas originate in connective tissues and muscles, cartilage, or the lymph system. Though they represent the smallest number of cancer cases, they are also the most fatal. Myelomas form in the plasma cells of bone marrow. Lymphomas are cancers of the lymph glands (or nodes) found in the neck, groin, armpits, and spleen. Prevalent types include Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Leukemias are tumors that form in the tissues of the bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes. They are not solid tumors and are characterized by an overproduction of white blood cells.

Although the precise causes of cancer are still unknown, one common feature unites all tumors: they develop as a result of changes or rearrangement of information coded in the DNA within single cells. Four of the primary causes of cancer, scientists now concur, are environmental factors (including exposure to carcinogenic substances such as air pollution, tobacco smoke, and industrial chemicals), diet, heredity, and lifestyle.

Diagnosing Cancer.     Physicians use a variety of diagnostic tests to determine if a symptom is cancer-related. The American Cancer Society recommends a Pap smear, a simple test for cervical cancer, every three years for women over 20. It also recommends a pelvic exam every three years from the ages 20–40 and annually thereafter. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends an annual Pap smear, especially for women with genital warts or herpes. Women should also examine their breasts regularly by feeling for any areas of thickening or for lumps and, after the age of 50, have an annual mammogram. Women at high risk of breast cancer may need earlier and more frequent mammograms. Breast self-examinations should be done about one week after the menstrual period when temporary, hormonally induced changes will be minimal. Men should regularly examine their testicles for unusual lumps as well, and be examined yearly by a physician to test for prostate cancer.